Allen L. Rutz

Allen is a partner in the Columbus office practicing in construction law, architect/engineer professional liability, commercial litigation, and products liability. He also leads the firm’s drone and autonomous vehicle working group.

Allen is a professional engineer and former research project manager and draws upon that training and experience in managing commercial disputes and counseling companies in matters involving scientific or technical substance. He also counsels companies and individuals facing investigations and ethics charges by State licensing boards such as the Ohio Engineers and Surveyors Board.

Allen has broad experience in litigating in federal and state courts, and AAA arbitrations and mediations, including construction claims, products liability claims, fire cause and origin (C&O) claims, and claims regarding the performance of industrial equipment.

Career highlights include:

• Appearing before the Ohio Supreme Court and numerous lower appellate courts.
• Operating as national coordinating counsel of construction claims for firm clients, including manufacturers and retail chains
• Obtaining dismissal of ethics charges against an engineering company and its principal after an administrative hearing
• Defending and prosecuting construction disputes involving infrastructure projects (roads, bridges, railroads, water, waste water, oil and gas pipelines, fiber optics) and commercial buildings (schools, hospitals, hotels and industrial facilities)
• Defending products liability actions involving fires and explosions in electrical and mechanical equipment, furnaces and silos
• Inventing U.S. Patent Nos. 5,941,230 (principal) and 6,112,741

Allen is a frequent lecturer on engineering ethics, construction law, and architect/engineer liability, and was an Adjunct Professor at Capital University Law School where he team-taught products liability with Professor Stanton G. Darling II.

Allen received his J.D. summa cum laude from Capital University Law School where he was a member of the Order of the Curia, the Order of the Barrister, the National Moot Court team, and the Capital University Law Review.  He received his M.S. from The Ohio State University, publishing his thesis on applying artificial intelligence methods to energy conservation. He received his B.S. magna cum laude from the University of Cincinnati where he was Tau Beta Pi and Pi Tau Sigma.

Allen externed for the Honorable Alan E. Norris, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit.

Prior to joining Vorys, Allen managed engineering research projects for the natural gas distribution and end use industries, including program design, relationship management, supervision of staff and subcontractors, and interactions with government and regulatory bodies including Consumer Product Safety Commission. He has authored numerous technical publications related to energy conservation, gas appliance venting, and test procedures, and has contributed to the ASHRAE HVAC Systems and Equipment Handbook and NFPA 54 National Fuel Gas Code Handbook.

Honors & Recognitions

Columbus CEO, Best Lawyers, Construction, 2022

Columbus CEO, Best Lawyers, Litigation - Commercial, 2022

The Best Lawyers in America, Construction Law, 2013-2023

Columbus CEO, Top Lawyers in Columbus, 2010-2021

American College of Trial Lawyers Medal for Excellence in Advocacy, 1997

Martindale-Hubbell AV Peer Review Rated

Professional & Community Activities

Ohio State Bar Association, Construction Law Committee, Chair, 2014-2016

American Bar Association, Forum on the Construction Industry, Construction Litigation Committee

Columbus Bar Association, Construction Law Committee, Common Pleas Court Committee

Builder’s Exchange of Central Ohio, Law and Finance Group

Capital University Law School Board of Counselors, Past Chairs Counsel

Heritage Rail Trail Coalition, Chair